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💌
Blame it on the heater
ft. heart diseases
” You want some more, more “
–
“….?”
Scaramouche watched while pretending to be uninterested as his roommate made a marathon around the house with a measuring tape for the past hour. She occasionally almost slipped and fell once her eyes locked onto a furniture but her body kept moving forward. Currently, she was staring intensely at one of the paintings hung in the living room.
He drained the diet coke down with two gulps. “What are you doing this time.” The other teacher finally blinked out from her thoughts, placing the hooked end of the tape measure onto the bottom of the painting. “Thinking to move around a few stuff during the weekend.” She responded shortly. “Do you think this makes the place look clumpy?” Scaramouche shrugged and sat up from his seat, grabbing the empty plate to toss into the sink. He bit his tongue from saying that her entire house looked clustered and chaotic at first step in. With all kinds of handmade to thrifted decorations filling every inch of shelves— no more than three feet of empty space existed on the walls.
In its own way, it was comforting despite the sensory overload one could get from just sitting on the couch.
“Hmm… Paintings probably wouldn’t fit in the truck.” She muttered to herself, catching his attention. His eyes glanced over to her direction. When Y/n noticed his gaze, she grinned as though nothing was wrong. As much as something felt off, he didn’t feel like prying into it.
E/c eyes scanning over the area of the wall, she placed a hand under her chin in thought. The piece was admittedly one of her favourites, but the canvas size was a little too big for her likings. Plus, she was only planning on leaving for a few weeks at most to calm herself down a little. Like a vacation. Her friend who owned the apartment she contacted earlier was one of her coworkers from the elementary Y/n worked at before coming over here, so she trusted her. In fact, she was thrilled upon hearing that she might get a roommate for the next little while.
One minor (major) problem. Y/n had absolutely no idea how to bring it up to Scaramouche about it without either sounding like a paranoid fatalist or someone running from her problems like there was no tomorrow. To he fair, neither of the two descriptions incorrectly described her current situation.
Slam
Y/n jumped what felt like six feet in the air as a hand reached forward from behind her right shoulder and slammed into the wall next to the painting. She instinctively squeezed her eyes and hunched her shoulders a little. Upon feeling no impact, Y/n carefully peeled one eye open. The familiar smell of cologne, this time mixed with shampoo, was the first thing she breathed in.
“Spider.”
Scaramouche simply justified himself. When he lifted his hand that was actually holding a folded tissue inside his palm, showed the mushed remains of an eight legged creature that crawled out straight from hell. Y/n breathed out, deflating like a balloon from the tension she didn’t know she was holding.
…As grateful as she was, was his pause in their current position really that necessary? She could feel his subtle breaths right by her ear— just two centimetres closer and Scaramouche would be pressing his chest against her spine.
Finally, he backed off to toss the crumpled tissue into the trash.
He seemingly indifferently stepped back upstairs and left Y/n dumbfounded and staring at the wall. The situation finally clicked in her head and her ears began to grow warm.
What was that for….
Assuming that he didn’t think anything of it and she was just overreacting, the h/c haired teacher silently melted down into the ground. But she failed to notice the slight slam in the direction Scaramouche’s room was upstairs and the sound of someone dragging their body down from the door.
—He buried his fingers in his scalp once he was in the secure confinements of what he called his room. What was that for?? There were hundreds of other postures that were much more reasonable. Simply telling her, reaching in from the side, throwing something— anything. The faint smell of her perfume, worn out but lingering from the day that clung onto her clothes still tinged in his senses. The faint rise and fall of her chest that was so up close for no reason—
Stop it.
Maybe he should book a doctor’s appointment sometime these days. This was definitely a heart issue.
☆
” —I really don’t know what’s going on with everyone these days.” Y/n breathed out tiredly. Zhongli tilted his head, blowing lightly over the surface of his tea that rippled at the air. Steam that arose faded into the air as soon as it appeared. Not a single trace left behind of its existence. “Whenever I walk into my class, everyone gives me a glance and starts talking about something else than what they were doing. Even the teachers look off. From time to time with almost to connections on when, they just cast me a grin and walk out.” She leaned onto the back of the chair with a done look in her eyes.
Late afternoon on a school holiday, which the entire building was on a one day break other than a few important staff due to district representatives having a meeting there. Scaramouche had gone out for something, and Y/n took the chance to invite her old teacher over who agreed without second thought at the offer. The brunette male cleared his throat softly after taking a sip of his heated drink.
…He had indeed taken a part in this setup the students had began planning between her and her roommate. But right now, he felt a tinge of guilt in his morales at how down the teacher genuinely looked.
“Hm… Perhaps they’re planning something for you.” He suggested, being mindful to not speak any more than necessary to comfort her. Y/n tilted her head in thought. “Are there any events that are upcoming?” Her eye widened as a lightbulb ticked on. “Oh right! It’s my birthday in a week.” She recalled. Zhongli smiled once her eyes brightened in realization. “Ah, so that’s what they were up to. How could I be so blind..”
Her birthday just so happened to be on a very convenient date of the calendar for their plan.
An airy atmosphere returned around her once more, the gloomy emptiness in her irises faded like the steam that arose from their tea. “Ehe… Looks like I made a big deal over something like this. I feel bad now.” She tapped her fingertips lightly on the teacup. He shook his head. “You cannot control how you feel nor what you think. What you can affect however, is your mindset that processes such.” “You sound like a real grandpa, mr. Zhongli.” Y/n rolled her eyes as he only chuckled.
“Are all these paintings yours?” He opened his eyes and admired the canvases of various sizes hung upon the walls. From personal replicas of famous pieces to works that would make a person think it was printed at first glance, not a single space was wasted. She smiled almost bitterly. “Yeah. Most of them were projects when I was in college.” She sipped on her drink, wincing at the heat. “Would you like a few?” Zhongli turned to her in question. “So suddenly?”
“I’m planning on making more once I get back, and I need space to hang up the new ones.” Golden-amber eyes pierced into her attentively. “I apologize if I’m being nosy, but are you going somewhere?” He questioned. Y/n stopped midway through her posture as though someone has pressed the pause button. Zhongli caught onto that expression and cleared his throat quietly. “Hm.. This tea seems familiar. Ah yes, that store down the corner. No one really knows of that place, but they have many items from back in my days that I often visit for memories.” He mindfully drew the conversation somewhere else.
“…..” Two round e/c blobs reflected in the brownish liquid, the steam blurring the reflection.
“I’m thinking of moving out for a bit.” She admitted, taking an extra long sip to have a moment to gather her thoughts. Zhongli looked up and met her eyes, letting her know she had his attention.
“My mother was released from the ward she was admitted into after the incident.”
“Ah..”
“…..”
☆
“You- you— GIVE MY HUSBAND BACK!!“
Her eyes blinked, distantly hazed and unfocused as though she was in another world. The faceless lady in black a bulletproof vest held the shouting woman back from her daughter. “Ma’am, I understand you are upset, but we will be forced to detain you by force if you prove to be a threat.” She spoke robotically, but a hint of sympathy lingering her tone. The girl sitting on the chair on the wall of the outside of the operation room stared ahead without thought.
Everything felt surreal, one world away. The faceless and nameless people talking in the background, some placing a comforting hand on her back, some gazing at her with pity. From the nurses in teal scrubs jogging in and out of the room with the room with a glowing red sign signalling there was an operation in progress that felt like a buzz —to the countless murmurs and footsteps.
Out of the corner of her unfocused eyes, a figure with h/c hair was throwing a fit in the grasp of two taller figures, her hands behind her back. Y/n closed her mouth fallen slightly agape.
The smell of a hospital is a mix of disinfectant, bleach, and the uncomforting smell of rubbing alcohol that seems to sting further at one’s wounds open wounds. Before one knows it, the smell fills the air like a dense fog. It has a cloying and heavy scent that clings to the back of the throat, leaving a bitter aftertaste. Even the damp and musty air, punctuated by the occasional acrid smell of burning flesh didn’t catch much of her attention. It seemed to fill the very molecules in the air, drowning you in its cloying depths.
Not many people are happy to be in such a place. The wailing sounds of kids crying down the hallways somewhere, the distant beeps of heart monitors, and desperate footsteps filling the white corridors. Nothing felt like reality, maybe the reason she was so calm. It all seemed like a fever dream. She would soon wake up on her friend’s couch anytime soon.
A tray dropped in the distance. Another screech from the woman being dragged away by the people in black bulletproof vests. All the noises and sensations seemed to merge as one— becoming increasingly difficult to separate and identify one stimuli. The blinding fluorescent lights made it difficult to keep her eyelids apart from one another. The deafening chorus of high pitched screams and a steady beat of monitor machines continued on like a broken music box. Staff and people in white gowns continued to stream through the stark white hallways, not leaving a single sense that was left alone.
“I hate you.. I HATE YOU— I should have never given birth to you…!”
Who was she again..?
“Ms…. —’s state is…. —nstable”
Why wouldn’t everyone just.. Take a break and stop for a moment.
“../n?”
If only time could pause right there for a little.
“Y/n.”
The teacher flinched, startled by the sudden call of her name that dragged her back into reality. Concerned yellow eyes offered her a worried gaze. “Y/n, I called you over three times. You’re probably tired— take a break for today.” He suggested while glancing at the time. “It looks like the guest overstayed. I will be going for now. But Y/n.
—Do not hesitate to contact me for anything, even for something small.” She would have jumped up and placed his cup in the sink before seeing him off at the door. But her body just sat there in place, threatening to melt into the chair any moment. The warm hand on her shoulder that seemed to be the only thing keeping the ground from sucking her in finally removed itself.
The small clatter by the sink told her that Zhongli cleaned up the teacups. He adjusted his glasses, heading towards the door before turning around. “Take care, remember what I said.” A faint smile brushed itself on his sharp complexions that didn’t do a single thing to suggest a number even remotely close to his age.
Right before his hands grazed the metal doorknob, the door opened from the other side.
“…?”
Navy blue irises narrowed, seeing an unfamiliar figure that greeted him the moment he opened the door. “Who are you.” He monotonously demanded while peering inside upon remembering that his roommate was already home and was likely with this stranger alone before he came. From what it looked, the insides looked fine.
“I’m Y/n’s…. Old accomplice. I must have startled you, my apologies.” The brunette male dipped his head slightly. “We were having tea, I was planning on departing soon.” Scaramouche walked in, fully intent on nudging (shoving) past the man if he didn’t move already. Zhongli didn’t miss how his eyes noticeably softened upon seeing that his roommate was sitting on the dining chair without much seeming off. He turned to leave, before slowing down when he was close enough to the blue haired teacher.
“..Please stay by her side in the meantime.”
Scaramouche’s eyes sharply glanced over to the side at the whisper murmured into his ear. But before he could fully turn around, the older looking man had already left. Eerie silence fell over the air.
It didn’t take a genius to figure something was going on with her again.
He tossed his bag to the couch and walked into the kitchen to grab a cup from the dishwasher that was currently being used as a drying rack. “What happened to you this time?” He unenthusiastically blurted while pouring leftover tea from the kettle into it. By no means did he seem like he was actually meaning it.
But the entire time, his eyes were on her.
“…Just got a bit nostalgic while talking about old times with that dinosaur of a man.” She soon replied back as though nothing ever happened. A silent signal for him to not prod further into her business. “I miss the little kiddos I taught about mixing colours all day.”
“Out of everything I see in the four walled space with thirty teenage children that would make anyone consider ending themselves rather than seeing the future they would make, that was the biggest bullshit I heard today.” He slammed his cup down on the table that he had silently approached without her even noticing. Y/n didn’t back down either, as she snorted and smiled ignorantly. “I’m honoured to be something of recognition.” She shrugged.
“…I can very well go out and chase down that four eyes down the street right now.”
“He’s our elder, show some respect!!”
“What happened then?”
“….” Y/n blinked slowly, placing her elbow on the table. Why was he all of a sudden so interested in her mood? But then again, this was Scaramouche in the story. If he woke up one day and decided to sue the district for a crooked logo on the school banner, not many would question it. Unpredictable, but he was not that unreasonable. Well… Most of the time. “—It’s really nothing.” After all that thought, those were the final three words she managed to respond with.
A frown curled itself on his expression. “It takes one hell of a fucker to make you make that expression.” He reasoned.
“Scaramouche.” Her head raised up, meeting his gaze as his breath got caught in his throat. “It’s really nothing you should be worried about.”
In short terms, mind your own business.
Kunikuzushi soon ripped his gaze from hers, a foreign and heavy feeling in his chest. It felt like his breath that got swallowed down was inflating into a balloon, so filled it could rupture any moment now. He suddenly wondered what got in him for him to do what he just did.
..Maybe age was really getting him these days.
“…Yae invited you for dinner.” He quickly changed the subject of the conversation, Y/n’s eyes returning to their normal airheaded gaze. “You mean invited us?” “The fatass needs to be fed.” She rolled her eyes. “We can feed him before we go out. What time?” As though he recognized the word for his name, Kabuki trotted downstairs from her storage room. He made a beeline to Scaramouche, nuzzling into his leg with a swaying tail.
“Come to think of it, I don’t think he needs to be fed tonight in the first place.” Y/n gasped dramatically, picking the feline up. “Are you bodyshaming..?? Scaramouche, not everyone is born the same way.” She nuzzled into Kabuki’s side gently. But turns out he had other plans today.
While stretching, the white tipped paw grazed dangerously near her face. And when cats stretch, their claws tend to stretch out. “Ow..!”
Y/n instinctively let go of the furball in her arms, a hand reached out to where the sting came from. A thin red line was drawn a safe distance under her left eye. Before her own hand could reach up her face, someone else’s beat her to it.
“Tch. You’re so high maintenance, you know that?” He clicked his tongue, a hand firmly holding her chin up to get a better look at the cut. His face lowered slightly to her level. Both of them could feel their breaths fanning on each other’s skin. Not more than five centimetres away from direct contact.
Ba-dump
His gaze flickered from the line of red marked on her skin to the rosy hue of her mouth. The tint she had applied earlier today was slightly worn off, parted slightly without thought.
Ba-dump
Her breathing subconsciously began to match his own. She averted her gaze, but her eyes drifted back to a pair of indigo ones. How could someone’s lips be so perfectly smooth…
“…?!”
Within a flash, the indigo haired teacher was five steps away from her. His expression was hidden since only the back of his head was visible from her angle. Y/n turned around and placed the back of her palm on her cheeks that had warmed. Maybe she should’ve turned the heater off.
Both knew that the house was cold enough to get goosebumps if you took off your sweater. But that moment, they simultaneously decided to blame the sudden burst of warmth on the nonexistent heater.
——
A/n i wrote this but forgor to publish it for like two days
send help my entire gallery is jus manhwa sc
3191 words
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